Chapter 3 - Hydrogen Production by Electrical Energy

By Dincer, Ibrahim; Zamfirescu, Calin
Published in Sustainable Hydrogen Production Elsevier 2016

Abstract

Abstract In this chapter, electrochemical methods for hydrogen generation are compared and discussed, with a focus on the green form of hydrogen production using electrical energy. In the first part of the chapter, the fundamentals of electrochemical-hydrogen production are introduced, particularly the thermodynamic analysis of the involved electrochemical reactions. Various aspects of electrode kinetics are also introduced. The methods of electrochemical-hydrogen production assessment are conducted through various efficiency formulations. Basic analysis and modeling details are presented for alkaline, PEM, and solid oxide electrolyzers. Although water is the most abundant source for electrochemical-hydrogen production, other possibilities exist, such as in the chlor-alkali process, in which chlorine, caustic soda, and also hydrogen are derived from sodium chloride. A section of this chapter is dedicated to chlor-alkali technology, method and its relevant models. Other electrochemical-hydrogen production methods are briefly discussed. The chapter ends with a section on integrated systems for green-hydrogen production based on electricity supplied from renewable energy sources, such as hydropower, wind power, geothermal power, ocean-thermal energy conversion, solar thermal, and biomass power and solar photovoltaic systems coupled with specific types of electrolysis units.

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